4.25 stars.

I wanted to read Ellis and Wren's story ever since Savor it. "She's still a Byrd", ugh. Second chances are growing on me and I honestly never saw that coming.

Reading bout Wren and Elli's love truly felt like you were experiencing a childhood love that blossomed into adulthood. Having all your firsts with your favorite person blended with life forcing them both to grow up a bit too fast and prolong a lot of emotional healing that happens to most people in their 20s (ish?? lol). Seeing them go back and rework a lot of their miscommunication while also going through the process of understanding their defense mechanisms and rewriting a healthier version of them felt like a mega therapy session. I liked that I got to see them both as "the bad guy" instead of one person shouldering a lot of the blame. Both of them definitely had a lot to learn before their happy ending.

This story was beautiful. It did feel a bit predictable which is why it's not a 5 stars. Maybe predictable isn't the right word but I think I would have just needed a bit more oomph to push it to 5 stars.

HOWEVER, THE ENDING. Definitely cried a couple times at the end. It was just so satisfying and felt like a warm hug. The joy their love brings to the people around them was felt so deeply.

5/5! STRAIGHT TO THE TOP OF MY LIST FOR THIS YEAR. This is a second chance marriage trope which I did not anticipate enjoying, however please don’t let that stop you from reading this. It turns out this is a set up for all of my favorite aspects of romance. You get the depth of characters who know each other well and have deep and meaningful interactions. I also don’t typically love a friends to lovers because they usually have misconceptions and perils of defining the relationship, which didn’t happen with this story. They also display the beauty of seeing how change can happen in your life as you grow as a person. I loved hearing Ellis and Wrens story and look forward to more books from Spunes. These characters will stay with me for what’s left of forever.

If I could give this book infinity stars, I would. Possibly a favorite book of the year and it’s not out yet.
Wren and Ellis made my heart ache in the worst and best ways. Watching their second chance romance was emotional and hopeful. I love that even though they divorced, neither had gotten over the other. And a man who puts in the work and goes to therapy? Yes please. I loved the journey and the peaks of other Spunes characters. I’ll be grabbing the audio and a physical copy as soon as they’re available. I need this one in every format possible.

Thank you to St. Martins for the early read. All opinions are my own.

Oh my goodness!!!! Where to begin! I absolutely adored this book. This is one of those stories where I simply couldn’t help but cry happy tears. This is my third Tarah DeWitt book, and they just keep getting better and better (and spicier, too!).

Wren and Ellis’ love story was one that I was rooting for. They were divorced but clearly still loved one another, and I thoroughly enjoyed the pining and yearning in this second chance romance. I especially loved Tarah’s writing in this one. She has grown so much as an author since Funny Feelings, and this is my favorite book of hers yet. She crafted such a raw and emotional story of second chances, grief, and healing, and gave us a realistic portrayal of two people who despite it all, fell back in love.

Thank you to Net Galley, Tarah DeWitt, and the publisher for this ARC! 5 stars!

If I had a nickel for every time one of my favorite authors released a heart-rending second-chance romance this year, I'd have three nickels. Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it has happened thrice.

Left of Forever comes on the heels of Out of the Woods and Wish You Were Here, two other second-chance romances that I absolutely adore. Left of Forever follows Ellis and Wren's attempts to rekindle their relationship after a divorce five years ago. You knew this book was going to take you for a ride the moment that Ellis said "She's still a Byrd," in Savor It and DeWitt delivers.

The two had a child (Sam, introduced in the first book) in their teens and got married young, though time and circumstance drove the two apart. Ellis was too reserved with his feelings and compliments, and unwilling to trust Wren with his thoughts. Wren's battles with infertility and an ectopic pregnancy (trigger warning for those that may have issues with either) further drove the two apart. But, from the start of the book, you learn that both Wren and Ellis are still holding a candle for each other. Bringing Sam to college provides an opportunity for the two to reconnect on the way home and for Ellis to show how he's grown and changed in order to feel worthy of Wren's love. Enter meddling families on both sides, that force the two into increasing proximity and a single bed.

Look, we love a man who goes to therapy and rocks a mustache, so Ellis is always going to be someone worth cheering for.

On a more serious note, DeWitt is so deft in showing the challenge of marrying young. How do you grow together instead of growing apart? Can you love every version of each other along the way? Second-chance romances often fall flat because whatever drove the two main characters apart is often something worth being apart because. But, in this case, you can sense that the two still loved and cared for each other and that, with better coping strategies on both sides, may have survived the roughest years. The two have tough conversations about what the loved and hated about each other and the drama feels very, very real.

I think DeWitt must thrive on our tears, because she continues to provide books full of such painful longing that you can't help to feel a little melancholy along the way.

* Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review! *

♾️/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Puffin for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tarah Dewitt has done it AGAIN with another story that had my clutching my heart, laughing out loud, and crying at various intensities throughout this story. The Byrds of Spunes, Oregon, (not Forks, Washington 😂) are so messy, imperfect, relatable, beautiful, and real. There are so many parallels that I see in Ellis to fire fighters like my dad and “uncles” from the firehouse that made him that much more endeared to me. Wren and Ellis finding their way back to each other was beautiful, heartbreaking, hilarious, and absolutely deserving of being your next read. Be sure you have tissues at the ready for all the emotions!

Five stars! Wren and Ellis are childhood friends who fell in love young age and had a child together following an unplanned teenage pregnancy. After spending more than 2 decades together, the hardships in life tore their marriage apart. Five years after their divorce, Wren and Ellis decide to take a road trip after sending their son off to college to see if they can have another chance to spend what's left of forever, together.

It's an absolute delight to be back in Spunes and spend time with some of my favourite characters. I've been intrigued by Wren and Ellis since reading about them in Savor It. They met and fell in love and carried so much responsibility before they fully found themselves as adults. Their hearts took shape around each other and I don't think they've ever stopped loving one another. However, communication is clearly not their strong suit. Maybe that's what happens when you're too busy being your family's Rock of Gibraltar. You end up minimizing your own needs and you end up falling through the cracks. Then, they tried to build walls to shield the other person from their sharp edges and ended up locking each other out.

I loved reading the letters, journal entries and emails they exchanged. Those, combined with the difficult, candid conversations they had, the vulnerability they shared, ultimately broke down the walls they built around each other. I laughed with them, felt for them and almost didn't cry with them. Well, I managed to keep it together until the very last sentence in the book. That line really got me. In summary, this was a moving, second-chance romance about two amazing people finding their way back to each other. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

♾️⭐️

I find it difficult to write reviews for books I love so much, but I do know this to be true: we're so lucky to live in this world at the same time as Tarah DeWitt. If anyone wants to come at me and claim that romance books are in any way inferior, I will direct them to Tarah's backlog.

Tarah's books are about genuine, messy, loving people making their way through life and finding the love they deserve. No fictional couple deserves this love more than Wren and Ellis.

Wren and Ellis are childhood friends to lovers, to teenage parents, to exes living in the small coastal town of Spunes, Oregon. After bringing their son to college, Ellis convinces Wren to take an extended roadtrip back to Spunes to give their relationship another shot.

I think this is the first thing either of them have ever truly done for themselves. They’ve been caretakers from the time they were basically kids and it’s a privilege to watch them navigate their way back to each other without any distractions or responsibilities holding them back.

The yearning and raw hope contrasting with the fear of messing it all up again is executed so beautifully earnestly. It’s not even just the big emotional scenes that make such an impact. It’s the little moments in between. A line that catches you off guard because it’s so ridiculously clever and gorgeous that you have to put your kindle down and give your brain a minute to absorb it. I stopped counting the times I teared up after we hit number four at thirty percent.

Left of Forever is out May 20th, but you can (and should) preorder it today.

Thank you to SMP and NetGalley for the early access.

I loved Savour It so I was really excited to be back in Spunes for Left of Forever. Unfortunately, I had a hard time getting into this one. The fall out between Wren and Ellis felt unbelievable, just as much as their reconciliation. The letter writing back and forth made it so hard to connect with either of them, because it was so obvious how little they communicated in their real life. Which just doesn't make sense when they have an almost adult son together. I also had a hard time with the time line being during the same time as Savour It, made me really confused in the first part of the book.

It’s good to be back in Spunes, Oregon! This novel follows Wren and Ellis, who we were first introduced to in Dewitt’s earlier book, Savor It. This could absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone but it’s always fun to go into a book familiar with the characters and setting!

Ellis and Wren were high school sweethearts but after facing too many obstacles, divorced in their late twenties. Both can feel their story is not quite finished so after their son’s graduation they embark on a road trip to see what’s left for them. Their journey is full of humor, sadness, tenderness, and spice! It was easy to root for them on their journey together.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this story. All opinions are my own.

I'm booking my trip to Spunes, OR! Thank you to NetGalley, Tarah DeWitt & St. Martin's Griffin for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. I am so thrilled to talk about the second book in this series, Left of Forever, I previously read the first book, Savor It and absolutely loved the writing and the characters, so I was excited to jump back into this universe and see what the Byrd siblings were up to. Left of Forever focuses on the eldest Byrd sibling, Ellis and Wren, the local baker/ex-wife. This is a second chance story about two soulmates who grew apart and ultimately found each other. This was such an excellent story. I knew it would be amazing since Tarah's first book, as you could feel the angst coming from Ellis. Left of Forever takes place years after their divorce, where they agree to go on a roadtrip after dropping off their son at college. I don't want to provide any spoilers, so I will focus on how this book made me feel. I connected to both characters as they are two individuals who found each other early in life, grew up together and ultimately fell apart due to the obligations & circumstances. I loved how Tarah was able to include their history in tandem with the present timeline. It made you feel more connected to these characters, empathize with them and understand that in order to grow together, they needed to separate.
One major bonus were the secondary characters; the Byrd family and locals provided many laughs, I loved the different types of relationships the main characters had with these supporting characters as they helped provide context and encouragement in facing the unknown. I said it after Savor It and I'll say it again, I am definitely looking forward to the next book in this series as it keeps getting better. I"m so invested in the town and family and hope to see them all find their happily ever afters.

Thank you to St Martin's Griffin and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tarah Dewitt penned a majestic and strikingly emotional novel about giving love a second chance. We follow the story of Wren and Ellis who had previously built a life together and that was onset by falling in love as kids and becoming parents as teenagers. Fast forward to the present, both are in their 30s and are divorced. Despite living separate lives with Ellis being a firefighter and Wren running the bakery in town, they have been on each other's minds frequently. Their son Sam is graduating high school and gets accepted into college. Ellis prompts a road trip with Wren come moving Sam to his new residence as a way to give their connection one last chance. With an itinerary that is mapped out for days, Ellis and Wren are confronted with their past head-on and can their relationship progress again?

Tarah Dewitt, oh the woman you are. This is my first title of hers and will definitely be picking up her other novels. I also don't have a lot of experience reading the second chance trope, and Tarah single-handedly made this trope a new favorite. I absolutely loved the way that Tarah built this story up from the ground up. Introducing us (or me because this comes after Savor It) to the Byrd family was so much fun to read. Early on, Tarah excels at laying the groundwork for why this second chance is so special.

Tarah's pen game is also top tier, as the writing was lyrically satisfying. Most importantly, Tarah's ability to convey emotion between these characters that was so powerful demonstrates her whimsical craft. At times, I was rooting for Wren and Ellis throughout this book and the yearning between these two characters felt real and had depth. Many times I had to pause and highlight quotes because they were so riveting that I had to read them thrice at times.

One of my favorite things about this book is upon starting it, there is a book playlist. Book playlists are one of my favorite creations in contemporary/romance titles. Glancing at the tracks, I immediately knew this book was going to be fantastic, as the songs selected are emotionally charged and are even among my favorites. The playlist matches the love and themes in this book incredibly well. Finally, as this is my first time reading one of Tarah's titles, Tarah's writing beholds a distinguished feel that I have not come across in other romance titles. Left of Forever sets itself apart from other books on my bookshelf for it's ability to have made me breathless at times, as it compelled me to feel deeply about Wren and Ellis' story. Tarah has become an auto-buy author alone on this book, and I will be running to the book store soon to get her other titles.

Left of Forever by Tarah Dewitt releases on May 20th.

Review will be posted soon to my instagram.

It has taken me a few days to fully figure out how to talk about this book and the way it burrowed its way into my soul. We met Wren and Ellis in Savor It, and I was excited to go back to Spunes Oregon (not to be confused with Forks Washington), to follow their story of reconnection, but what I wasn't prepared for was the way, despite not knowing a lot about these characters except the basics going in, that them and their love story would grip onto me from the very beginning and refuse to let go. In fact, the hold they had on me only got tighter. I felt everything they felt deep in my bones, from start to finish. The raw emotions were visceral with every line I read. If I could give this a 6th star, I would.

Wren and Ellis are childhood friends turned teenage lovers and eventually teenage parents. They married young and ultimately divorced 5 years prior to the events of this book. Now they're taking their son to college in CA and using the trip home as an opportunity to see if they're able to get past the differences that lead to them splitting up. This is a second chance romance that might very well have ruined me for all other second chance stories. The way Tarah was able to weave in just bits and pieces of their story from when they met as kids to when their marriage ended throughout the book and still managed to have those few, brief moments in time paint a complete picture of who they are as people and a couple was truly amazing, and added the needed layers to continue investing deeply in this story. When you start to piece together the wedge that came between them, she tells the story in such a way that you understand completely how this marriage could have ended while neither character actually ever stopped loving the other, and why/how you could/should root for them to figure it out and get it right this time. It feels so real and understandable, while breaking your heart at the time time.

I am not one who usually cries, but I was so deep in their feelings and emotions every time I picked this up that I found myself tearing up at the most inconspicuous of lines. Everything hit in just such a way that one minute I would be smiling, and feeling myself go soft and the next I would feel an ache clutching at my chest. There were so many bittersweet moments strewn throughout, reminding you that while it's clear the love was still there, their past tainted it and that's what they needed to work through. The conversations that took place and the way these two characters handled talking through their issues and their attempt to reconnect were truly beautiful. You were able to see why they worked together and the path that was open for them to possibly work again.

I cannot express enough how much I loved this book and how I have never had a piece of fiction effect me quite the way this one has. I fully recommend it.

I adored this book!!! The connection between Ellis and Wren was everything. I really enjoyed the way this story was told and all the family members was so so sweet. If you are in need of a “second chance” romance, please read this!!!

I adored the communication that went on with the two main characters as the story went on - understanding the mistakes that happened in their relationship and further fixing that and making their relationship even more stronger.

I absolutely adored this book. It's funny, real, and just delightful. It's one of those books where you don't want to put it down but you also don't want it to end because you l9ve the characters so much.

I loved how this book handled the history between the characters. It showed the good, but didn't shy away from the ugly and hard things. There were a few elephants in the room, and while some took a little while to get to, they were all addressed in a good, realistic way.

I love that in the end they hit a spot where they'd embraced their unique, messy history and that they were imperfectly who they were.

3.5 rounded to 3.

It has been five years since childhood friends to lovers, Wren and Ellis, ended their marriage. After Ellis finds a recent journal entry Wren write and a trip down the west coast to drop off their son at college, they decided to travel back to their hometown of Spunes together to see if the love once shared was truly fizzled out for food or if it remained just below the surface all along.

I'm such a sucker for a second chance romance, and this book was the epitome of just that. I really enjoyed getting to learn about Wren and Ellis as they grew up together, the beginning of their relationship, the hardships they endured as a married couple, and then navigating being divorced and co-parenting. I feel like much of what they faced together is very real and others could relate to it in some capacity. Although their reasoning for divorce is mentioned, I would've liked to have gone more in depth, especially during those final months before they ended it. That was the only thing I found myself wanting more of.

Left of Forever is book 2 in the Spunes series. It's an interconnected standalone featuring characters from book 1, Savor It. This is my first read by this author, and I look forward to reading more in the future (especially if there's a book about Micah 🤭)!

Read if you love:
🌲 Second chance
🌊 Small town
🌲 Emails and written letters
🌊 West Coast road trip
🌲 Forced proximity

Thank you to the author, Tarah DeWitt, St. Martin's Publishing, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Whoooo this book was hot! And for some reason it completely escaped me that this was Ellis and Wren's story from Savor It until I opened the book. ICONICCC!!! I honestly need books for Silas and Mason now. Make it a Byrd Quartet. I'm here for it.

We were alllll rooting for Ellis and Wren in Savor It. Their story of first love, parental loss, teen pregnancy, and early marriage was romantic and heartbreaking. Left of Forever goes into their relationship in-depth.

Likes:
-Writing letters to one another, but she doesn't know it's him
-She writes a journal & that's how we learn about their past
-Roadtrip to reconnect
-The spiceeeeee O.o
-Romantic
-Writing is great

Dislikes:
-Did they reallyyyy fix their problems?
-A bit melodramatic

Tarah DeWitt is quickly becoming a voice to be reckoned with in romance! I've enjoyed all 3 of the books I've read of hers so far. :)

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

My heart is full.

My soul is fed.

Left of Forever is a blazing shooting star! It’s riveting, brilliant, and oh so beautiful it almost aches. The tear ducts were put to work! But so were the smiles, the laughs, and the sheer satisfaction in reading a couple put in the work into bettering their partnership and reclaiming their love whose flame never truly extinguished.

Wren and Ellis were childhood sweethearts, who became teenage parents, then a happily wedded couple. They were a couple deeply in love, but became lacking in communication until they made the difficult decision to part ways. Now in their mid thirties – and over four years post divorce – they should be well on their way moving on, but their hearts aren’t ready. Until a road trip takes them on journey that will forever change their course. Or perhaps better said: reset it.

Both Wren and Ellis are instantly lovable and relatable protagonists. They are the type of characters you immediately embrace.

Wren is such a gorgeous soul. She has so much pride in her son she and Ellis have raised lovingly. But as their son heads off to college, Wren is trying to learn her identity besides mother. She’s rediscovering herself, including her wants and goals. She is also trying to move on from the love of her life. But not having Ellis in her life evokes a great void deep in her bones. It’s something she has difficulty coming to terms with, try as she might. Miscommunication plays a part in her trying to further distance herself from her former husband. She assumes he’s moving on and it’s a hurt she feels she must silently contend with as she tries to put one foot in front of the other. Yet she’ll find there’s something– someone – who will gladly turn her onto another path.

Where to begin with Ellis?! That man is a yearner! He longs, he wants, and he waits. He’s not ready to let go of his wife, regardless of what papers say, regardless of what others say, regardless of what his own rationale is saying. His heart– his very soul –is tethered to Wren and he’s not ready to give her up for good. He longs for their stars to align once more. I won’t spoil it, but oh gosh the great pleasure felt when Ellis finally finds a tangible reason to fight for his wife. It’s early in the book, yet I felt so deeply connected, as if I’ve known these two forever, that I wanted to whoop out a ”Finally!” at the top of my lungs.

Sometimes it takes a nudge of right timing to fall back into step. And once timing has found its pace, communication becomes that next big step.

Oh yes! Communication is key!
One of my favorite parts in this incredible journey is how Wren and Ellis work through all the missteps of what ended their marriage. And that begins by simply learning to talk to one another again. To not overthink the words, but to say them. To share words that are honest and true. I relished in Ellis becoming more comfortable in readily complimenting Wren, in expressing himself rather than bottling up. And the same for Wren– her written words in her journal not only became wonderful therapy for self, but also a window into her heart she chooses to share with Ellis. Who took his cues from them.

This seemingly but not all simple action of bettering communication becomes one of the most poignant decisions in their lives. It strengthens their emotional intimacy. I consider that emotional connection the cornerstone of a strong, lasting romance– and Tarah DeWitt absolutely delivers and then some! I felt the hearts of Wren and Ellis so deeply, irrevocably bonded. It’s true love on every level. Physically and emotionally.

I love Wren and Ellis so wholly. So intensely. I wanted to dive through these pages into their world to provide encouragement. To rally behind them. To make them kiss too! Luckily they’re quite set on the latter! Very well set! I’ve never been huge on second chance romance, but consider me a convert thanks to this one! I finally get it, y'all! It hits differently, dare I say more impactfully, when a couple who were once so intimately connected relearn one another’s body, heart, and soul. It’s familiar to them– yet new. It’s a rediscovery that reignites all senses. It urges, it anticipates, it thrives. It finds its way back home.

It finds the magic in romancing once more– in talking together, in working through arguments, in laughing over memories, in creating new ones. There’s magic there and once those stars realign, watch out, because Wren and Ellis will take to the skies with their love.

Love will always find a way– you just have to put the work in forging its path and the magic will make its way back to you.

Oh, Wren and Ellis: how beautiful your work was. Love you forever!

Thank you so kindly to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this advanced complimentary copy. I leave this honest review voluntarily.

I LOVED this book. This was my MOST anticipated read of the year and when I was lucky enough to get this ARC, I had mixed emotions. On one hand I was so excited to start reading but also I knew I'd be devastated when it was over. Anything written by Tarah is just phenomenal and leaves me wanting her next book immediately.

Left of Forever is truly magic. I cried. I laughed. I swooned. Just. So. Good. Tarah nailed it. I have no complaints. My top read of 2025.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This book has altered my bones 🥹

The love I have for Tarah and her books know no bounds. She has a way of writing that etches these stories and characters into your soul, forever taking up residence.

The Bryd family and their small town of Spunes (not to be confused with Forks) has me in their grasps and I’m praying they never let me go.

Left of Forever is, at its core, a story about two people rediscovering themselves and rediscovering the love they have for each other. Sprinkle in some second chance with a road trip? Recipe for success 😚

Wren and Ellis were high school sweethearts, had a baby at 17 and got married very young. And then grew apart. Now years later, they are sending their baby off to college and fate intervenes in the form of delivery of scones and two missing horses 🥹 Wren and Ellis decide to extend their trip and after dropping off their son at school, decide to make a few extra stops and take the time to see if they can reignite their relationship.

I genuinely don’t know how Tarah packs so much backstory and nostalgia and love and spice and emotion into a normal sized romance book. I know that this book is probably around the 300ish page mark, but my heart and soul will die on the hill that it is somehow 600 pages. That is how much I felt connected to these characters and their story and how much I felt impacted at the end of this book.

@authortarahdewitt - this is me on my hands and knees, absolutely BEGGING for a certain brother who made a certain speech at a certain event that made me cry my eyes out, to get his own book 🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️🧎🏻‍♀️

Absolute banger. Add this to your TBR if you haven’t already. excuse me while I go learn how to fold origami birds. 👋🏻

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for allowing me the HONOURRR of reading this perfection early. I’m forever changed.